Stabilized floating deck



C. H. HAUPT Nov. 15; 1932.

ATING DECK Filed May 29, 1931 ILIZED FLO Charles Ham Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE cnannns ransom, or ELIZABETH, mew JERSEY, Assmnon TO [STANDARD on. DEVELOPMENT comranv, A oonrona'rron' or DELAWARE S'JIAIBII'JIZEIDv FLOATING DECK Application fled Kay 29, 1931. seria no. 540,929

This invention relates to improvements in floating decks of the type adapted to rest upon a body of liquid in a tank. The invention will be fully. understood from'the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which latter- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred form of floating deck disposed upon a body of liquid in a storage tank, and I Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the floating deck and tank,'the

. deck being in its elevated position with respect to the body of liquid. Referring to the drawing, reference numeral 1 designates a tank which may be of cylindrical form and which is adapted to contain liquid 2 such as oil, or the like. A floating deck or roof is disposed upon the surface of the liquid. The deck is of slightly less d-i ameter than the diameter of the tank so that the deck can rise and fall as the level of the liquid in the tank varies. The floating deck fiestsdhorizontally upon the surface of the qui The floating deck comprises a body portion or plate 5 having a portion of its bottom or under surface elevated abovethe remaining portion of the undersurface. The body portion inclines upwardly from a central portion 6 towards .its peripheral edge. An annular baflle7 projects downwardly from the-plate 5 adjacent its peripheral edge into the liquid 2 a suflicient distance to prevent the escape of any vapors or gases accumulating between the surface of the liquid and the under surface of the plate 5. The baflle 7 and the bottom of the deck 8 form an annular pocket in which vapors are held under pressure, as will be described. Vaporization' of a portion of the 40 liquid in the tank results in the vapors being directed by the inclined undersurface of the plate 5 upwardly to accumulate in an annular pocket. The accumulated vapors function to lift-the deck in the liquid. The deck is therefore .partiall supported by the displaced liquid throu the medium of the compressed vapor as we I as by the buoyant effects of the rtion of the ,deckwhich remains submerged 1n the liquid. This combined flotation efiect may be referred'to as a differential support.

is proportionedto maintain the stability of i the deck in its elevated position thereby maintaining the deck substantially horizontal. Any water or other material falling upon the upper surface of the deck is conducted by the downwardly inclining walls of the deck to its central portion, and as a consequence does not upset the stability of the deck. The water accumulating at the center of the deck can be withdrawn by a line 8.

The accumulation of vapor beneath the surface of the deck in amounts sufficient to raise the center of buoyancy so high as to upset the stability of the deck is prevented by vent pipes 10 opening from the elevated portion of the under surface of the deck at spaced intervals. Vent pipes 10 are each provided with a pressure vacuum valve 11. The vent pipes open through the under surface of the deck closely adjacent to the annular baflle.

The floating deck is guided 'inits up and down movement within the tank by means of arms 12 projecting from the baflle 7 .and carrying uide rolls 13., Sealing means 14 of any suitable construction project radially. outwardl space etween the floating deck and the side walls of the tank.

By the construction described a floating deck is rovided' which will maintain its horizonta position under all conditions of the deck has been described as eing of in- 4 verted cone shape, it'will be understood that' a it can be provided with a convex under surface and some of the advantages of the invention will be retained.

from the annular baflle 7 to seal the 35 

